The Tesla Model S and BMW i3 fell short of earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2017 Top Safety Pick+ award. For a vehicle to qualify for the Top Safety Pick award, IIHS said it must earn “good” ratings in all five crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderated overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints and seats — and come with a front crash prevention system that earns an advanced or superior rating.
The “+” is awarded to vehicles that meet all the above criteria and come with “good” or “acceptable” headlights.
Ratings for crashworthiness and headlights are good, acceptable, marginal and poor.
The Model S earned a good rating in all IIHS crashworthiness evaluations except the small overlap front crash test, in which it earned an acceptable rating.
IIHS said the Model S “ran into problems in the test when the safety belt allowed the dummy’s torso to move too far forward. That allowed the dummy’s head to hit the steering wheel hard through the airbag.”
IIHS noted that the Model S ratings apply to 2016 and 2017 cars built after October 2016.
Tesla told IIHS that it made a production change on Jan. 23 to address the head-contact problem and IIHS will test the updated Model S for small overlap protection as soon as it can be delivered.
The current Model S has not been rated for front crash prevention, IIHS noted, because while automatic braking equipment comes standard, the automaker has not activated the software for all vehicles.
IIHS also noted the 2017 Model S isn’t available with anything other than poor-rated headlights. The automaker told IIHS that it is working with its supplier to improve the headlights. IIHS will evaluate the new ones when they are available.
One Model S variant in particular, the high-performance P100D, was also dinged for its roof strength. The P100D has the same roof structure as other Model S variants, IIHS said, but noted that because the car has a larger, and heavier, battery it earned only an acceptable rating for that test.
The BMW i3 was hindered by its acceptable rating in the head restraints and seats evaluation, IIHS found. The car’s only available headlight system earned an acceptable rating.
The i3 earned good ratings in other crashworthiness tests and is available with an optional front crash prevention system that earned an advanced rating, IIHS said.
“There’s no reason the most efficient vehicles can’t also be among the safest,” said David Zuby, IIHS’ chief research officer, in a statement. “We hope Tesla and BMW will continue to refine the designs of their electric models to maximize driver protection and, especially in the case of Tesla, improve their headlights.”
Two other green vehicles, the Toyota Prius Prime and Chevrolet Volt, earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation for crash test and crash avoidance performance, the organization said.
IIHS plans to test the latest EV to enter the market, the Chevrolet Bolt, once it becomes widely available this year.